On 6-6-2010 numerous fire rigs from Cal Fire along with Merced county units rumbled up Aruba road (near Highway 5) to get into a fight with a grass fire. Early radio traffic suggested the fire was about 20-25 acres.

In addition, Cal Fire scrambled several aircraft including a spotter plane, 'air-attack' helicopters, and fixed wing aircraft in an attempt to beat the fire back before it got much worse. Bulldozers were also brought in to cut a fire break.

The smoke from the grass fire could easily be seen from Los Banos.

This reporter is unaware of what caused the Aruba fire, but as we move into summer, I believe that it is important for all of the residents of Los Banos practice fire safety be it on the job, during recreation, or during the commute...

Generally speaking, as spring turns into summer, the humidity drops while the dryness of the area's flora increases. This makes for excellent combustion conditions

Readers are cautioned to be very cognizant of the potential for a disastrous wild fire. Whether from an ill-tended campfire, a gasolinre powered atv, a tossed cigarette, sparks from a chainsaw or steel bladed weed-trimmer or brush hog, or anything else, the results can be severe.

For those who are considering a camping trip this year, Cal Fire has produced a document that details some campfire tips. You can read that document here. It also details the potential liability that those who do not keep their fires in check may incur.

The following photos were taken during the firefighting operations just off of Aruba Road last Sunday.

In addition, one of my photos of a CalFire aircraft dropping retardant appears in the June 7th issue of the Merced Sun Star.

Cal Fire Firefighters make their way to the 'heel' of the fire and began to douse the flames.

As firefighters got further and further out from their engines, they spliced hoses together. Here you can see a firefighter with two rolls of hose in the carrier on his back. When these carriers were emptied, firefighters would return to the engines to reload the carriers with more hose and then they would hike right back up the hill to help battle the blaze.

A firefighter secures a hose clamp on one of the hoses as another couples another roll of hose to the first..

Firefighter prepares to release the hose clamp when instructed to do so by the team leader.

Back in the game... The firefighter working the nozzle end continues working the fire line

While the men on the ground work the fireline, an air attack is also being mounted. Here S2 series airtanker aircraft number 80 delivers a load of fire-suppressant a few yards in front of the fire line. This series of aircraft was once used by the US military for anti-submarine duties. They were later retrofitted for Cal Fire with firefighting capabilities.

A closer shot of 'number 80' as he finishes his fire retardant drop.
Note the line of flames in the background.

Back on the ground, the front-line crew is still hard at work....

The men keep walking west making their way up the fire line...

There's nothing easy about this job. As more hose is retrieved from the trucks which are parked some distance away, one of the firefighters takes a few minutes to rest .

Right back into it! A Firefighter climbs down a small canyon wall, following the line of the fire's edge into the smokey canyon.

More 'air attack' resources brought in. Here a UH-1 series 'Super Huey' Helicopter (number 406) begins his water drop. The hose that dangles from the back end is used to bring water into the onboard tanks as the chopper hoovers over a body of water and refills.

Number 406 makes another pass dropping water on the fire-line in between hills.

As the chopper ends one of its runs, the pilots (who deftly sweep in and out of the hills) are plainly visible in Huey #406. In addition to the fixed-wing tankers and the helicopters there was a spotter aircraft, (probably an OV10A Bronco) which circled the fire, vectored equipment in, and basically was an eye-in-the-sky for the incident commander on the ground during the entire operation.

Just before dusk the fire was pretty well out in the heel area and the firefighters began the march out.

Choppers landed and took at least two crews on a well earned ride 'home'. Here number 106 is given support during the landing by one of the fire crewmen.

Until another day...

If everyone in Los Banos would just take 1 or 2 hours a month to do something to help their neighborhood or their community we could truly make Los Banos the gem of the valley.

The above is only my personal opinion and I strongly encourage readers to seek out more information from expert sources. Copyright 2010